Oar coupling



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

. D. SCHOFIELD.

CAB COUPLING.

N. PETERS. mmnmmlwgnwvwr. wnsmngm. .c.

(No Moda.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

D. SGHOPIELD. GAR GOUPLING. No. 369,965. Patented sept. 1s, 1887.

H6113. E) D @L UNiTED STATES PATENT @lirica DANIEL SGHOFIELD, OF OAMDEN, NEV JERSEY.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 369,965, dated September 13, 1887.

(No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL ScHoFiELD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Camden, Camden county, New Jersey, have invented certain Improvements in Car-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

One object of myinventionis to so construct a coupling that it will be self-acting when the cars approach each other and can be readily and securely locked in the coupled position, another object being to provide bearing-surfaces for the coupling-heads which will withstand the Wear to which they are subjected, and which can be readily removed and replaced when worn.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are views showing the application of my improved coupling to a railroad-car; Fig. 3, an enlarged perspective view of the meeting ends of the coupling-bars; Fig. 4, a sectional view showing the coupling locked in position, and Fig. 5 a view showing another form of the coupling. I

The shank or bar of my improved coupling consists of upper and lower plates, A A, between which, at the front ends, is secured a coupling-head, B, the outer face of which is beveled or inclined from the centerto each end, as shown in Fig. 4, the inner face of the head being by preference also slightly inclined, as shown. From plate to plate of the shank, immediately in the rear of the coupling-head, eX- tends a pin, a, which should be of hardened steel or other material capable of resisting wear, and in each of the plates of the shank, in the rear of the head B, are formed two sets of openings, b, each set being adapted for the reception of a coupling-pin, d,which is passed through the openings and through a corresponding opening, f, in the coupling-head.

The coupling shank or bar of one oar is set slightly out of line laterally with that of the adjoining car, as shown in Fig. 1, so that when the two cars approach each other the inclined faces of the coupling-heads will strike and the coupling-bars will be crowded apart until one head has passed the other and can pass in behind the same, as in Figs. 2 and 4. This engagement of the heads may be effected by means of springs acting on the coupling-bars; but I prefer to provide each car with a springbumper or bearing-block, x, against which the beveled face of the advancing coupling-head comes in contact, and by which said couplinghead is forced into engagement with that of the adjoining car, the bearing-block yielding laterally as the coupling-heads move sidewise in passing each other.

rIhe inner faces of the coupling-heads do not come into contact, but bear against the pins a, which are made with especial reference to resisting strain and wear, and can be readily removed and replaced when worn without renewing any other part of the coupling.

In uncoupling, the heads may be drawn back Yby means of the usual devices for the purpose,

the bearing-block yielding to permit the separation of the heads.

When great security in the coupling is desired, each coupling-bar may have two coupling-heads, one in advance of the other, as shown in Fig. 5, both heads in this case projecting beyond the car-platform, or provision being made for inserting the coupling-pins from beneath the platform, the bearing-blocks being dispensed with.

The distance between the plates A A of the shank of the coupling-bar is preferably greater than the thickness of the coupling-heads B, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to provide for coupling when the cars are of different heights; and in orderto provide for that lateral flexibility of the coupling which is required in turning curves, the openings b and f for the reception of the coupling-pins are elongated laterally, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, so as to permit the desired amount of play.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, in a car-coupling, of the coupling-bars and the coupling-heads beveled for automatic engagement, both heads and bars being provided with openings for the reception of coupling-pins, all substantially as specified.

2. The combination ofthe coupling-bars and the beveled coupling-heads carried thereby, with a bearing pin in the rear of each head, forming a contact-surface for the adjoining head when said heads are in engagement, all substantially as specified.

3. The combination of the coupling-bars, each provided with two beveled couplingheads, one in advance of the other, said heads and bars having openings for the reception of coupling-pins, all substantially as specified.

4. The combination of the oouplingbars, composed of upper and lower plates, and the coupling-heads interposed between said plates, both bars and. Vheads having openings for receiving couplingpins, all substantially as specified.

5. The combination of the coupling bars, I

composed of upper and lower plates, with the laterally-engaging coupling-heads interposed between said plates, but less in thickness than the extent ofspace between lthe plates', to permit coupling when the heads are at different r 5 heights, as set forth. y

In testimony whereof Ihave signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subseribjng witnesses.

DANIEL SGHOFIELD. Y

Witnesses:

WILLIAM D. CONNER, HARRY SMITH. 

